'Tis the Season
This year, determined to avoid the malls, I set out to do my Christmas shopping early and online. It wasn't too hard to find reasonable and thoughtful gifts for my multifarious family members. But then I reached the hard part: my fandom friends. What could I possibly do to show them how much they meant to me? There was always fanfic, but I knew myself and my glacial writing pace too well. I'd never finish even the first present on the list by the 25th.
Then I thought harder about my f-list and the common experiences and interests that tie us together. And I realized that my fan friends were essentially the only all-female support group in my life, and in many ways the biggest support I have in the life-long process of coming out queer in a society that has not yet learned to deal with that.
And that made up my mind for me.
So, this year, my gift to the wonderful circle of friends that has made a subculture into something much more like a home, is a donation of $25 each to four different charities promoting the welfare of women and the queer community.
Pretty Bird Woman House, the only women's shelter on the Standing Rock Lakota reservation. Their facility was recently destroyed by theft and arson, and they are raising money for another building and equipment.
The Mautner Project, the National Lesbian Health Organization, fighting for social justice in health care. They work both with patients to inform them of their rights and with health care providers to educate them about bias. A special dedication to coyote13 and kisarazumama.
The Human Rights Campaign, a major LGBT advocacy group. They lobbied fiercely in support of the FULL version of ENDA and keep queer issues on the radar in DC. And their name is a constant reminder that gay rights are HUMAN rights.
Feministing, a sassy Third-Wave feminist blog with a real-world activism bent. (Just this week the readers organized a call-in campaign to force Wal-Mart to stop selling a pair of juniors' panties with the slogan "Who needs credit cards when you've got SANTA!" across the crotch.) The site is collecting donations to go undergo a major renovation from mere blog to an online social network for activism.
For all of you awesome women out there on my list, thank you for being who and what you are, for caring like you do, and for making this season and every other special.
http://www.johnaugustswanson.com
Happy holidays, may the dark of midwinter always have light in its heart of hearts.
http://hughgrahamcreative.com
Then I thought harder about my f-list and the common experiences and interests that tie us together. And I realized that my fan friends were essentially the only all-female support group in my life, and in many ways the biggest support I have in the life-long process of coming out queer in a society that has not yet learned to deal with that.
And that made up my mind for me.
So, this year, my gift to the wonderful circle of friends that has made a subculture into something much more like a home, is a donation of $25 each to four different charities promoting the welfare of women and the queer community.
Pretty Bird Woman House, the only women's shelter on the Standing Rock Lakota reservation. Their facility was recently destroyed by theft and arson, and they are raising money for another building and equipment.
The Mautner Project, the National Lesbian Health Organization, fighting for social justice in health care. They work both with patients to inform them of their rights and with health care providers to educate them about bias. A special dedication to coyote13 and kisarazumama.
The Human Rights Campaign, a major LGBT advocacy group. They lobbied fiercely in support of the FULL version of ENDA and keep queer issues on the radar in DC. And their name is a constant reminder that gay rights are HUMAN rights.
Feministing, a sassy Third-Wave feminist blog with a real-world activism bent. (Just this week the readers organized a call-in campaign to force Wal-Mart to stop selling a pair of juniors' panties with the slogan "Who needs credit cards when you've got SANTA!" across the crotch.) The site is collecting donations to go undergo a major renovation from mere blog to an online social network for activism.
For all of you awesome women out there on my list, thank you for being who and what you are, for caring like you do, and for making this season and every other special.
http://www.johnaugustswanson.com
Happy holidays, may the dark of midwinter always have light in its heart of hearts.
http://hughgrahamcreative.com